THE Accrington Stanley players are fired up after hearing a rumour that Margate are confident of winning Saturday's clash at the Interlink Express Stadium (ko 3pm).

Despite being at the lower end of the table, Margate are unbeaten on their travels this season.

"They have been bullish about their chances. We have heard that they think they will beat us and that might act as a red rag to some of my players," said manager John Coleman. "But I am not too concerned about that. What we have got to start doing is taking our chances. In the last three games we have only conceded one goal but we need to get a foothold early on with a goal. We also want a win on a Saturday as we haven't done that yet."

Stanley are currently on a three-game unbeaten run which began with a home Bank Holiday win over Scarborough followed by draws at Tamworth and Barnet. In the goalless encounter with the Bees, Coleman used a 4-5-1 formation but he refused to see it as a defensive one.

He said: "Lutel dropped back onto the wing but he is not a defensive player, nor are Andy Gouck, Steven Flicroft or Rory Prendergast, and they were four of the five in midfield. It was just a different way of playing. But this is difficult to play at home as the impetus is on us more to take the game to them. But the run gives the players a boost and gives us confidence as we know we can hold our own in this league."

Stanley will be without Paul Cook and Dean Calcutt tomorrow. Cook sits out the first of his three-match suspension for a straight red card while Calcutt will be suspended for one game only after two yellows against Tamworth.

Coleman doesn't expect to add to his squad before tomorrow although he says he has been talking to two strikers this week.

He explained: "It is no slight on the other strikers at the club but the two I have been talking to could offer something a bit different. Lutel has pace and we haven't got direct cover for him."

They had hoped to take a frontman from a Conference club on loan but the club in question wanted Stanley to sign him up rather than a loan deal. And he is still in talks with a Third Division attacker.

"That is not dead and buried yet - neither deal is. It has turned into quite a long process but I am hopeful."